Aliwan Fiesta 2015 schedule

The Philippines’ finest craftsmen artisans and the most talented streetdancers are once again expected to converge in Metro Manila in a weekend of cultural extravaganza.

The Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) in cooperation with the cultural center of the Philippines (CCP) brings you the annual Aliwan Fiesta 2015.

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Highlight of this three-day feast are the nightly shows, trade fairs, dance competitions, float parade festival queen search and the national streetdancing competition where the grand winner wins One Million Pesos.

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Last year’s winners include the Lumad Basakanon of Cebu Sinulog Festival, Meguyaya Festival of Upi Maguindanao and Tnalak festival represented by Santo Niño South Cotabato.

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Aliwan Fiesta 2015 is slated april 23-25. Streetdancing competition is scheduled April 25.

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The dazzling Lights of Ligligan Parul 2014

Every December all roads lead to San Fernando Pampanga for the annual celebration of Ligligan Parul or the Giant Lantern Festival. This yearly spectacle is attended by thousands of local and foreign tourists alike.

But behind all this glimmering lights are a dizzying web of wires and lightbulbs only a genius can understand.

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And this is what we exactly discovered during a recent media familiarization tour of the Giant Lantern Festival. The tour was organized by the City Tourism Office of San Fernando and was attended by local media from Pampanga as well as media from Manila.

Early morning of December 2 i traveled from Metro Manila to San Fernando the capital of the province of Pampanga for the tour.

At around 10am we left the heroes hall and off to our first destination : Brgy Telabastagan. Telabastagan is known as last year’s champion of ligligan parul so giving me access to their closely guarded secret excites me a lot.

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Finally we arrived. Even if it’s covered with tarpaulin i can easily spot the lantern as it is soooo big! During the interview we learned that the minimum size of every parol must be no less than 20ft in diameter.

I can just imagine how can these master craftsmen create stunning visual play of lights without confusing themselves on the wires? I learned that Telabastagan uses 11,800 lightbulbs just for one lantern. According to Mr. Arnel Flores lantern designer of Telabastagan for this year, their expenses have already reached six hundred thousand pesos. They will also be using eight rotors to create the magical patterns on the lanterns.

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Rotors are barrel shaped steel connected to a power source. When a thin hairpin-like instrument touches the surface of the barrel. The light bulb goes on. To turn it off. Portions of the barrel are covered with masking tape. The rotors are said to be the brain of the most dazzling lights of San Fernando Giant Lanterns.

Its just amazing to see an entire barrel covered with masking tape and then piece by piece they are removed according to the lighting pattern or design.

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More than just the giant lanterns, we also got to tour a school where college students are busy preparing beautifully crafted lanterns using recycled materials to be used during the lantern parade one of the activities leading to the highlight of Ligligan parul.

We also visited Safer Village one of the participants for this years inter village Christmas Decor competition. I can really see the community effort in this competition. Each one is pitching in their contributions in any way. Whether its snacks for the guests or sounds for entertainment. It’s really amazing what the spirit of Christmas can bring.

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This year’s highlight of Ligligan parul is slated December 13 at the Robinsons StarMills in San Fernando Pampanga.

Mekeni, Malaus pu kayo!

Dinagyang festival 2015 schddule

As early as September loud beating of the drums can already be heard reverberating all over the city of Iloilo. This is in preparation for the annual celebration of the Dinagyang Festival. Dinagyang is a Hiligaynon term meaning “merry making”. And one of the highlights of the festival is the ati tribe competition.

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On the fourth Sunday of January students from various schools and barangay pain themselves in dark brown and wear bahag and dance to the loud hypnotic drumbeating, much to the delight of the crowd.

During the tribal competition expect to see fast paced choreography, numerous costume changes and extravagant production design.

Laat year’s champion and Aliwan Fiesta 2013 grand winner Tribu Panayanon portrayed the panay bukidnon epic Hinilawod in a 5-minute dance routine. The group’s performance wowed the crowed and ultimately won the much coveted trophy.

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Also confirmed to join this year are the contingents representing the Talakudong Festival of Tacurong City and Kalimudan Festival of Isulan Sultan Kudarat. The twi festivls will be performing during the Kasadyhan Regional Festival of Western Visayas. Check the schedule below:

January 24 Kasadyahan Regional festival of Western Visayas
January 25 Dinagyang ati tribe competition

Sinulog 2015 schedule

January is just around the corner. And what a better way to start the year than celebrate the feast of Señor Santo Niño in cebu.

The famed Sinulog festoval which reaches its peak on the rhird Sunday of January draws millions of Filipino and tourists alike in a festival of epic proportions.

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Check out the schedule of activities below and be sure you know wheere to go and which activities to attend to.

This early out of town contingents from the Province of Camiguin has already signified their intention of joining the streetdancing competition. Also on the list are the town of Catbalogan Samar, abuyog and alang alang Leyte Tangub City Misamis Occidental. Placer Masbate will once again be sending two contingents for the free interpretation and the sinulog-based category.

January 10 Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan
January 11 Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Dakbayan
January 16 sinulog festival queen search
January 17 fluvial procession (AM) foot procession (PM)
January 18 grand Parade
January 19 awarding ceremonies and repeat performance of winning groups

Buglasan Festival 2014

Every third week of October the province of Negros Oriental celebrates its founding anniverary in a week-long fiesta known as the Buglasan Festival. This year I decided to visit Dumaguete to witness the streetdancing competition. This is my first time to attend the fiesta and I am very much excited to see the burst of colors in Dumaguete’s streets.

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We arrived in Dumaguete City just in time for the streetdancing parade to start. We went straight to the Boulevard to witness the parade. I am truly amazed at the colorful and elaborate costumes worn by the dancers. Truly, they were works of art and a pride of Negrense artistry.

Their dances too are very graceful. The dancers did not mind the scorching heat of the sun. They gave out their best performances to the delight of the cheering crowd.

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Once the parade was over we also walked down the streets until we reached the parade’s last stop at the provincial capitol.

Feeling tired and hungry we decided to grab some foods. In Negros, chicken inasal has been a popular choice during fiestas. I opted to get pecho (thigh) with rice on the side.

The streetdancing competition is just one of the main events of the annual Buglasan Festival. There are other events lined up for the festival like concerts trade fair fireworks competition and the nightly band show.

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I may not have covered all of the events of Buvlasan but thus gives me more reason to go back again next year. And yes, i have fully enjoyed every minute I stayed in Dumaguete

I am already counting the days until my next visit to the City of Gentle People!
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